Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Friday 17 December 1999

Scottish Executive

Civil Service

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2058 by Mr Jack McConnell on 10 November 1999, whether it will detail the total number of civil servants employed (a) full time and (b) part time, broken down by department, between administrative and professional staff and by grade.

Mr Jack McConnell: The staffing figures as at 1 December 1999 are set out in the table. The information is broken down by department and then by the grades used by that department.

  


 


 


FULL TIME 
  

PART TIME 
  



DEPARTMENT 
  

GRADE 
  

ADMIN 
  

PROF 
  

ADMIN 
  

PROF 
  



SE CORE 
  

RURAL AFFAIRS 
  

BAND A 
  

357 
  

9 
  

36 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND B 
  

219 
  

305 
  

21 
  

4 
  



 


 


BAND C  
  

41 
  

39 
  

2 
  

0 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

14 
  

2 
  

1 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

631 
  

355 
  

60 
  

4 
  



 


EDUCATION 
  

BAND A 
  

114 
  

0 
  

18 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND B 
  

82 
  

11 
  

12 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

14 
  

102 
  

3 
  

2 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

8 
  

12 
  

1 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

218 
  

125 
  

34 
  

2 
  



 


ENTERPRISE & LIFELONG
LEARNING 
  

BAND A 
  

92 
  

1 
  

18 
  

0 
  



BAND B 
  

131 
  

10 
  

16 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

32 
  

4 
  

2 
  

3 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

12 
  

3 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

267 
  

18 
  

36 
  

3 
  



 


DEVELOPMENT 
  

BAND A 
  

159 
  

2 
  

19 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND B 
  

163 
  

61 
  

21 
  

1 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

32 
  

55 
  

1 
  

3 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

13 
  

9 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

367 
  

127 
  

41 
  

4 
  



 


CENTRAL SUPPORT 
  

BAND A 
  

490 
  

38 
  

49 
  

1 
  



 

 

BAND B 
  

332 
  

60 
  

21 
  

3 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

51 
  

75 
  

3 
  

5 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

20 
  

25 
  

1 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

893 
  

198 
  

74 
  

9 
  



 


JUSTICE 
  

BAND A 
  

131 
  

3 
  

18 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND B 
  

86 
  

21 
  

8 
  

3 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

16 
  

24 
  

1 
  

4 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

12 
  

3 
  

2 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

245 
  

51 
  

29 
  

7 
  



 


HEALTH 
  

BAND A 
  

108 
  

0 
  

16 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND B 
  

97 
  

3 
  

7 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

32 
  

12 
  

3 
  

1 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

10 
  

13 
  

2 
  

1 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

247 
  

28 
  

28 
  

2 
  



 


CROWN OFFICE 
  

BAND B 
  

482 
  

0 
  

134 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

191 
  

0 
  

23 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND D 
  

21 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND E 
  

9 
  

192 
  

0 
  

29 
  



 


 


BAND F 
  

6 
  

86 
  

0 
  

4 
  



 


 


BAND G 
  

1 
  

8 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

1 
  

34 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

711 
  

320 
  

159 
  

33 
  



  


 


FULL TIME 
  

PART TIME 
  



 


DEPARTMENT 
  

GRADE 
  

ADMIN 
  

PROF 
  

ADMIN 
  

PROF 
  



SE 
AGENCY 
  

FISHERIES RESEARCH
SERVICE 
  

BAND A 
  

33 
  

62 
  

2 
  

6 
  



BAND B 
  

23 
  

135 
  

2 
  

3 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

0 
  

24 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

0 
  

3 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

56 
  

224 
  

4 
  

9 
  



 


SCOTTISH FISHERIES
PROTECTION AGENCY 
  

BAND A 
  

25 
  

82 
  

8 
  

18 
  



BAND B 
  

14 
  

127 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

4 
  

22 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

44 
  

231 
  

8 
  

18 
  



 


SCOTTISH
AGRICULTURAL
SCIENCE AGENCY 
  

BAND A 
  

19 
  

40 
  

3 
  

4 
  



BAND B 
  

6 
  

48 
  

1 
  

3 
  



BAND C 
  

0 
  

12 
  

1 
  

0 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

25 
  

101 
  

5 
  

7 
  



 


SCOTTISH PUBLIC
PENSIONS AGENCY 
  

BAND A 
  

131 
  

0 
  

8 
  

0 
  



BAND B 
  

48 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

3 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

183 
  

0 
  

10 
  

0 
  



 


STUDENT AWARDS
AGENCY FOR SCOTLAND 
  

BAND A 
  

101 
  

0 
  

8 
  

0 
  



BAND B 
  

28 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

131 
  

0 
  

8 
  

0 
  



 


SCOTTISH COURT
SERVICE 
  

UG 6/7 
  

25 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



SEO/HEO 
  

126 
  

1 
  

2 
  

0 
  



 


 


EO 
  

184 
  

1 
  

16 
  

0 
  



 


 


AO 
  

301 
  

0 
  

63 
  

0 
  



 


 


SGB 
  

142 
  

0 
  

78 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

778 
  

2 
  

159 
  

0 
  



 


HISTORIC SCOTLAND 
  

BAND A 
  

113 
  

68 
  

27 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND B 
  

80 
  

114 
  

9 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

54 
  

80 
  

3 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND D 
  

23 
  

18 
  

1 
  

1 
  



 


 


BAND E 
  

8 
  

24 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND F 
  

2 
  

18 
  

0 
  

1 
  



 


 


BAND G 
  

6 
  

2 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

286 
  

324 
  

40 
  

2 
  



 


SCOTTISH PRISON
SERVICE 
  

BAND A 
  

48 
  

0 
  

5 
  

0 
  



BAND B 
  

176 
  

0 
  

37 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

273 
  

1,004 
  

29 
  

4 
  



 


 


BAND D 
  

250 
  

2,173 
  

16 
  

14 
  



 


 


BAND E 
  

0 
  

591 
  

0 
  

5 
  



 


 


BAND F 
  

0 
  

170 
  

0 
  

4 
  



 


 


BAND G 
  

0 
  

69 
  

0 
  

3 
  



 


 


BAND H 
  

0 
  

35 
  

0 
  

1 
  



 


 


BAND I 
  

0 
  

7 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

3 
  

5 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

750 
  

4,054 
  

87 
  

31 
  



  


 


 


 


FULL TIME 
  

PART TIME 
  



 


DEPARTMENT 
  

GRADE 
  

ADMIN 
  

PROF 
  

ADMIN 
  

PROF 
  



SE OTHER 
  

NATIONAL ARCHIVES
OF SCOTLAND 
  

BAND A  
  

60 
  

10 
  

14 
  

2 
  



 


BAND B 
  

7 
  

29 
  

0 
  

1 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

1 
  

8 
  

0 
  

1 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

68 
  

48 
  

14 
  

4 
  



 


GENERAL REGISTER
OFFICE 
  

BAND A 
  

122 
  

1 
  

13 
  

0 
  



 


BAND B 
  

88 
  

7 
  

4 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

4 
  

5 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

2 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

216 
  

13 
  

17 
  

0 
  



 


REGISTERS OF 
SCOTLAND 
  

DIRECTOR 
  

25 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  



 


SEO 
  

59 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0 
  



 


 


HEO 
  

209 
  

0 
  

26 
  

0 
  



 


 


EO 
  

384 
  

0 
  

85 
  

0 
  



 


 


AO 
  

288 
  

0 
  

34 
  

0 
  



 


 


AA 
  

186 
  

0 
  

20 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

1151 
  

0 
  

168 
  

0 
  



 


OTHERS 
  

BAND A 
  

42 
  

14 
  

3 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND B 
  

30 
  

26 
  

5 
  

0 
  



 


 


BAND C 
  

6 
  

2 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


SCS 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



 


 


TOTAL 
  

78 
  

42 
  

8 
  

0

Devolution

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to appoint representatives of (i) the Scottish Executive and (ii) the Scottish Parliament to the Council of the Isles, what will be the time-scale for appointments and what will be the role of cross-party discussions.

Mr Jack McConnell: The British-Irish Council (BIC) is being established under Strand 3 of the Belfast Agreement. Membership of the Council comprises representatives of the British and Irish Governments, devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, together with representatives of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The first meeting of the Council is due to take place in London on 17 December. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister will represent the Scottish Executive.

  Strand 3 also envisages the creation of links between legislatures, perhaps building on the existing British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body. However that is a matter for the legislatures themselves to consider.

Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many letters it has received from Cathy Craigie MSP on the issue of school closures in Cumbernauld before 2 December 1999.

Peter Peacock: Ms Craigie has drawn my attention orally to North Lanarkshire Council’s primary school reorganisation proposals for Cumbernauld on a number of occasions and over a period of weeks. These are, of course, matters for the Council.

Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive if it will report on the results of the finance consultation based on Spending Plans for Scotland .

Mr Jack McConnell: We initially sent out over 1,500 documents to a range of private and public individuals and organisations including all MSPs, Council leaders, Chief Executives, secondary schools and libraries. We subsequently received requests for additional copies and the final number of consultation papers sent out is 1,830. While the formal response to the document has been low, I am encouraged by the interest there has been in the document. As the Parliament only took up its powers on 1 July, timescales for consultation were limited this year and this will have affected the level of response. I will consider the timing and presentation of the exercise when we consult again next year.

  I will place copies of the responses to the consultation paper in SPICe.

Finance

Mr Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has completed its consideration of the plan for the Objective 3 Scottish Operational Programme.

Mr Jack McConnell: Yes. Following consultation with the European Committee, I am arranging for the Plan to be submitted to the European Commission within the next few days. There will be no significant amendments and a copy of the final Plan will be placed in SPICe.

Finance

Mr Kenneth Macintosh: To ask the Scottish Executive if it will report on the results of the finance consultation based on Spending Plans for Scotland.

Mr Jack McConnell: We initially sent out over 1,500 documents to a range of private and public individuals and organisations including all MSPs, Council leaders, Chief Executives, secondary schools and libraries. We subsequently received requests for additional copies and the final number of consultation papers sent out is 1,830. While the formal response to the document has been low, I am encouraged by the interest there has been in the document. As the Parliament only took up its powers on 1 July, timescales for consultation were limited this year and this will have affected the level of response. I will consider the timing and presentation of the exercise when we consult again next year.

  I will place copies of the responses to the consultation paper in SPICe.

Food

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the Efficiency Advisory Group set up to contribute to the efficiency study into the Meat Hygiene Service.

Susan Deacon: The Efficiency Advisory Group sought to consult all sections of the industry represented on the Meat Industry Forum as well as four consumer groups. In relation to Scotland, industry interests were represented by the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Associations and the Scottish National Farmers Union. Each organisation was invited to put their views and ideas to the Efficiency Group in writing and to send representatives to a plenary meeting. The decision of the meeting was to form four working parties covering poultry meat, full throughput red meat, low throughput red meat, and duplication of paperwork. Subgroups included representatives of not only the organisations concerned in meat production, but also associations relating to farmers, consumers, welfare, environment, training and employees including unions.

Genetically Modified Crops

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of the £3,500 fine levied on Edinburgh University in February 1999 for infringements of the Genetically Modified Organisms Regulations, it can assure the public that Scotland’s universities, institutes of further education, and research institutes are all currently meeting the highest standards of safety in their research into genetic modification.

Susan Deacon: All research activities into genetic modification (GM) whether carried out under contained use or deliberate release Regulations are closely controlled. The Regulations require detailed risk assessments to be carried out and appropriate control measures put in place.

  Inspections of premises undertaking GM research and of sites with deliberate release consent are carried out by specialist Health & Safety Executive inspectors. Where there is a breach of safety relating to either health and safety at work or to the environment, formal enforcement action can be taken.

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of the official mortality statistics registered as epilepsy-related for each year since 1990.

Susan Deacon: The figures are given in the table below.

  


Epilepsy1 deaths in 
  Scotland 
  



 


1990 
  

1991 
  

1992 
  

1993 
  

1994 
  

1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  



Epilepsy recorded as underlying 
  cause of death 
  

114 
  

101 
  

88 
  

77 
  

89 
  

101 
  

113 
  

99 
  

99 
  



Epilepsy mentioned on death certificate 
  

288 
  

272 
  

261 
  

255 
  

292 
  

265 
  

280 
  

289 
  

279 
  



Epilepsy mentioned on death certificate 
  but not recorded as underlying cause of death 
  

174 
  

171 
  

173 
  

178 
  

203 
  

164 
  

167 
  

190 
  

180 
  



  Notes:

  1. International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision) Codes 345.0 - 345.9

Health

Ms Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to reduce the incidence of prostate cancer in men and to promote good practice in this area.

Susan Deacon: There is no conclusive evidence of specific actions which if taken would lead to a reduction in the incidence of prostate cancer, although some evidence suggests that a low fat, high fruit and vegetable diet with reduced red meat consumption may reduce the risk of prostate cancer (i.e. a healthy diet of the type recommended as reducing heart disease).

  The Scottish Executive Health Department has recently provided funding up to a maximum of £360,000 to undertake a national prospective clinical audit of all urological cancers, of which prostate is one, commencing early in 2000 for three years. The aim of this programme is to describe the delivery of investigations and treatments and to audit these in terms of outcome.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients in Scotland have had lung transplants since the service began in the NHS.

Susan Deacon: Since the procedure was introduced in 1989, 53 Scottish residents have received a lung transplant and 19 a heart/lung transplant.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many specialist surgeons in Scotland are capable of performing lung transplants.

Susan Deacon: None.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to fund a lung transplant service.

Susan Deacon: The issue is being considered in conjunction with a review of cardiothoracic transplantation services in England.

Health

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to provide a dedicated acquired brain injury rehabilitation unit for children and teenagers in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The Chief Medical Officer is currently chairing a Working Group which is considering the provision of neurosurgical services in Scotland. The provision of a dedicated paediatric head injury rehabilitation unit is one of the issues that is being addressed by the Group. The Group is due to report in April 2000.

Health

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young men in Scotland currently suffer from Aspergers Syndrome, what resources exist at present for sufferers and whether it has any plans to increase provision of such resources.

Iain Gray: Information on the number of people with Aspergers Syndrome is not held centrally. People with Aspergers Syndrome have access to health and community care services. The level of these services is for health boards and local authorities to determine in the light of their assessment of local needs.

  The review of learning disability services will cover the needs of people with Aspergers Syndrome. It expects to report to Ministers by the end of the year.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that doctors should be allowed to refuse necessary medical treatment to a patient solely for the reason that the patient is pursuing litigation for industrial injury, and whether doctors can as a precondition of carrying out such treatment insist that the patient discontinues a legal action for recovery of damages for personal injuries.

Susan Deacon: Doctors owe a professional duty of care to their patients. They should do their best to establish and maintain a relationship with each patient and treatment should be based on the exercise of their clinical judgement, assessing the patient’s needs and the likely effectiveness of the treatment.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the practice of declining medical treatment to a patient unless the patient discontinues legal action for the recovery of damages for personal injuries is an infringement of that patient’s human rights and in particular of the right to a fair and public hearing under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights as amended to include the provision of Protocol No.11.

Susan Deacon: A patient’s right to pursue an action for recovery of damages for personal injury is a separate matter from and should not be related to the provision of medical treatment to that patient if such treatment has been considered necessary and appropriate in a doctor’s clinical judgement. Whether the circumstances pertaining to a particular patient amount to a breach of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights would have to be considered on the facts of that case.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has undertaken to eliminate age discrimination in treatment and care within the NHS.

Susan Deacon: Age is not a barrier to treatment or health care from the NHS

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evidence to support recent claims from organisations representing the elderly regarding the extent of discrimination in the NHS, and whether it will now initiate a full and comprehensive investigation.

Susan Deacon: There is no evidence to suggest that elderly people are being refused NHS care solely on the grounds of age.

Justice

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish prisoners released from Scottish prisons in each of the last ten years have been returned to prison because of re-offending.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not available. However, studies consistently show that a very high proportion of released prisoners are reconvicted within a short time. A 1997 study by Dr David Cooke showed 72% of a sample were reconvicted (though not necessarily re-imprisoned) within two years.

Local Government

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the future of the Best Value Task Force for Scottish local authorities.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Final Report of the Best Value Task Force was published on Friday 10 December. It makes a number of recommendations about the development of Best Value in Scotland.

  Since the introduction of Best Value after the 1997 general election, local government has put real effort into delivering services which put the needs of their customers and communities first. Every local authority in Scotland has declared its commitment to Best Value, encouraging a performance culture and local accountability.

  The Scottish Executive shares those aims, which are central to the modernisation agenda for central and local government. Ministers have already declared the intention to continue the moratorium on CCT in order to encourage progress.

  The Executive is happy to consider all the recommendations in the report. Local authorities do a great deal of good work, and we share their commitment to wanting to do even better.

  Copies of the report have been placed in SPICe and the report is also available on the Scottish Executive web site. With this report, the Task Force has discharged its remit and its work is done.

Local Government

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken a view on information provided by Perth and Kinross and City of Edinburgh Councils about the financial problems in their direct labour organisations and direct services organisations.

Mr Frank McAveety: Both councils have responded. They have begun to address the financial failures in their DLO and DSO. I am not therefore proposing to take any formal action at this stage. I have asked my officials to clarify a number of points with each council so that I can be fully satisfied that they will achieve their objectives of efficient and effective service delivery.

Prison Service

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Prison Service with regard to any low levels of morale amongst prison officers.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have met with the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service as necessary to discuss prisons issues.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether each of the proposed M8 Baillieston-Newhouse (both options), M80 Stepps-Haggs, M74 northern extension, A800, A876 Kincardine Bridge, A68 Dalkeith Bypass, A90 Balmedie to Tipperty and A985 Rosyth Bypass currently have full planning permission and other statutory consents.

Sarah Boyack: Trunk road construction proceeds through orders made under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. The table shows the stages reached in the trunk road proposals when work was suspended in June 1997 for the Strategic Roads Review. Questions relating to the M74 Northern Extension and the A8000 should be addressed to the local authorities concerned.

  


M8 Baillieston-Newhouse (on-line) 
  

No statutory procedures started. 
  



M8 Baillieston-Newhouse (off-line) 
  

Main scheme and Side Roads Orders 
  completed but would need amending. Most land owned but further 
  compulsory purchase order would be required. 
  



M80 Stepps-Haggs 
  

No statutory procedures started. 
  



A876 Kincardine Bridge 
  

No statutory procedures started. 
  



A68 Dalkeith Bypass 
  

Orders made for a single carriageway 
  bypass. Side road and compulsory purchase orders for a dual 
  carriageway bypass published. Decision letter issued. 
  



A90 Balmedie-Tipperty 
  

Orders and compulsory purchase 
  orders published but would require review before proceeding. 
  



A985 Rosyth Bypass 
  

Orders and compulsory purchase 
  orders published but line would require review before proceeding.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event that the construction of the M74 northern extension and the upgrading of the A8000 proceeds, it intends that the completed roads will be trunk roads.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive has no plans to increase the trunk road network.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has ruled out tolling as a means of funding the M8 and M80 Schemes.

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the decision not to refer the proposed M8 and M80 schemes to local authorities for further consideration indicates that, if these schemes are progressed, it will develop proposals itself for their procurement and funding.

Sarah Boyack: The A8/M8 and A80/M80 are trunk roads and responsibility therefore lies with the Scottish Executive. As the Report on the Strategic Roads Review stated the Executive will commission multi-modal studies of these transport corridors. Following the studies, the Executive will consider the procurement and funding of the essential transport improvements.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Conservative): To ask the Scottish Executive when and how it will examine practical local options to improve road safety on the A9 Preston to Balfarg Route, and what local consultations it intends to hold on its proposals.

Sarah Boyack: Officials of the Scottish Executive Development Department expect very soon to discuss, initially with Fife Council, the development of possible solutions to address transport problems on the single carriageway section of the A92 between Preston and Balfarg.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends, in the event that the A876 Kincardine Bridge Scheme is progressed, to refer it to local authorities for their consideration, and whether it will invite them to consider the use of road tolls as a means of funding the scheme.

Sarah Boyack: Decisions on procurement and funding of the A876 Kincardine Bridge scheme will be taken later. The next steps are to progress the two major consultancies referred to in the Report on the Strategic Roads Review.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates to be the timescale and cost of works on the A96 Keith to Fife trunk road to fulfil its commitment in The Strategic Roads Review – Scheme Decisions to a traffic calming regime and what local consultation it intends to hold on its proposals.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has considered the recommendations set out in the A96 Keith Traffic Calming Inception Report. The implementation of a traffic calming scheme estimated at a cost of £340k is accepted as a high priority scheme and has been included in the list of minor improvement schemes for this route. It is proposed to implement this scheme in stages with phase 1 starting next year, subject to funding being available. The Scottish Executive will consult fully with the Keith community before the design of the scheme is finalised.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, given the specific invitation in the Strategic Roads Review – Scheme Decisions to local authorities to consider congestion charges and motorway tolling in respect of the M74 northern extension, and the absence of any such invitation in relation to the A8000, it does not intend to allow the A8000 to be funded by tolling.

Sarah Boyack: As I announced on 4 November, it is for City of Edinburgh Council to take forward any scheme to replace the A8000.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what the plans are for press and media accommodation in the Holyrood building and whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will ensure that the press and media have adequate access and facilities.

Sir David Steel: The Press and Media are integral parts of the Scottish Parliament and will be well provided for in the Holyrood building. The SPCB will ensure that they have adequate access to MSPs and suitable facilities to enable them to carry out their business effectively. There will be direct access from the dedicated Press/Media office accommodation to the Debating Chamber and foyer area, and sufficient live "Commentary Booths" will be provided for the use of Broadcasters within the Chamber. There will be a Press conference room facility for Lobby briefing, and "Television and Sound Broadcasting" rooms.